Method and apparatus for washing patients

ABSTRACT

A METHOD FOR CLEANSING THE SURFACE OF A HUMAN BODY INCLUDING THE THREE SEPARATE AND SEQUENTIAL STEPS OF WASHING. RINSING AND DRYING, EACH STEP INCLUDING THE USE OF A SEPARATE, DISPOSABLE, AND ANTISEPTICALLY TREATED TOWELING, TO PREVENT SECONDARY INFECTION IN HOSPITALS.   D R A W I N G

April 20, 1971 F. H. PEMBROKE ET AL 3,575,712

METHOD AND APPARATUS PoR WASHING PATIENTS Orignaliiled Dec. 26, 1963 v 2Sheets-Sheet 1 I Y A," Y 7 "WMU-) l v I 1 O 64 52 O \|5 F162 M\`5 se.Q23 1 lNvENmRs FREoERlcK H. PEMBROKE JOHN P. GILMORE ATTORNEYS W F. H.PEMBRQME: BTM

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WASHING PATIENTS Original Filed Dec. 26, 1963 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS FREDERICK H. PEMBROKE JOHN P. GlLMoRE ATTORNEYSUnited States Patent O U.S. Cl. 134-6 20 Claims ABSTRACT F THEDISCLOSURE A method for cleansing the surface of a human body includingthe three separate and sequential steps of Washing, rinsing and drying,each step including the use of a separate, disposable, andantiseptically treated toweling, to prevent secondary infection inhospitals.

This is a contiuation of application Ser. No. 581,396, led Sept. 22,1966, which 'was a division of Ser. No. 333,563, led Dec. 26, 1963, bothnow abandoned.

This invention relates to method and apparatus for washing the surfaceof a human body and more particularly method and apparatus utilizingdisposable toweling for washing hospital patients.

Hospitals have always had the problem of secondary infection of patientsresulting from the sterility problems existing in hospitals. To combatthe problem, wash towels, bed sheeting, clothing, attendants uniforms,etc. are sterilized and oftentimes a program of area sterilization iscarried out in order to prevent secondary infection in patientsparticularly in the case of surgery patients. In recent years, this hasbecome a more acute problem because of the widespread Staphylococcus andstreptococcus infections and infections from other pathogens which nowplague hopsitals worldwide. The severity of this problem is everincreasing and it is a primary object of our invention to help to reducethis problem in one specic area, namely wash towels used in hospitals.

In the past, wash towels have been of the reusable or non-disposabletype carried by hampers to a laundry where they were laundered andthereafter sterilized. There are many problems of contamination duringthe disposal to the laundry, and problems of re-contamination subsequentto sterilization. It is one of the significant purposes of our inventionto provide method and apparatus for washing patients utilizingdisposable towels which minimizes the problem of secondary infections inhospitals.

It is another object of our invention to provide a disposable wash towelbeing antiseptically treated to prevent secondary infection as a resultof hospital residency.

Another problem plaguing hospitals is the inconvenience and timeconsumption resulting from use of present methods and apparatus forpatient washing, it being one purpose of our invention to minimise theinconvenience and time consumption necessary to wash patients inhospitals.

It is another object of our invention to provide improved method andapparatus for washing patients.

It is a further object of our invention to eliminate the cost andinconvenience of laundering non-disposable toweling.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be particularly setforth in the claims and will be apparent cce from the followingdescription when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing inwhich:

FIG. l is a side elevational view of one embodiment of our invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the FIG. l embodiment with partsbroken away and with internal structure shown in broken line;

IFIG. 3 is a reduced top planar view of the FIG. 1 embodiment of ourinvention;

FIG. 4 is a reduced right-hand end elevational view of the JFIG. lembodiment with internal structure shown in broken lines;

FIG. 5 is a reduced rear elevational view of the FIG. 1 embodiment; and

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view of the internal structure of the FIG. lembodiment.

We shall rst describe our novel apparatus by which our no-vel method isfulfilled.

With reference to the figures, we provide a portable carriage generallyindicated by the numeral 10 preferably of rectilinear, parallelepipedconstruction, preferably formed of sheet stainless steel or othernon-corrosive material comprising a front side wall 12, end side walls14 and 16, and a table top counter 18, and a rear or back sidewall 20.

All of the hereinafter described attachments of the carriage arepreferably manufactured of stainless steel, Monel, bronze, brass, orother non-corrosive material so that the entire carriage 10 may besterilized before use inside of a large hospital sterilizer.

The carriage is provided with a pair of ihandles 13 rigidly mounted tothe end side walls x14 and 16 for conveniently receiving the hands ofthe attendant or nurse so that the portable carriage 10' may beconveniently operated from either end. Two pair of swivel castersgenerally indicated by the numeral 15 are provided, each caster beingrigidly mounted at one of the four corners of the carriage 10 to theunderside of a bottom shelf 26 and being rotatable about both thevertical and horizontal axis. It will be noted that the side Iwalls 12,14, 416 and 20 of the carriage 10` provide a skirt extending below thebottom shelf 26 to partially overlie the swivel casters I15.

Internally of the carriage we provide three horizontally disposedshelves 22, 24 and 26 (FIG. 2) rigidly mounted integral with the sidewalls 14, 16, 12 and 20. Mounted integral with and recessed in a frontportion of the table top 18 is a washing sink 29 and a rinsing sink 30both of which may be drained by interconnected pop-up drain valves 38and 40 (FIG. 3) controlled by a common manually operated handle 32. Thehandle 32 is connected by linkages 34 and 36 to the pop-up drain valves38 and 40. Refuse water from the sinks 28 and 30 pass through pipes 42and 44 respectively to a common juncture at a T-joint 46 and then into awater refuse tank 48 rigidly mounted on shelf 24. Tank 48 extends thefull width of the carriage 10 from the front side wall 12 to the rearsidewall 20. Refuse tank 48 has a drain pipe 5t) (FIGS. 4 and 6)terminating in a manually controlled valve 52 having a spigot 53. Wateris discharged from the spigot 53 preferably into a floor drain someplacein the hospital.

With reference to FIG. 6, fresh water, heated to a selected temperature,is provided to an insulated fresh water tank 54 also extending the fullwidth of the carriage. The tank 54 is fully insulated to maintain thefresh water at the selected bathing temperature. A fresh water supplyline from a source outside of our apparatus is removably connectable toa manually controlled valve 58 at a spigot where a closure capy 56 isnormally provided except during lling of the fresh water tank. Valve 58is carried on a pipe 60 delivering the heated fresh water lto the .tank54. The tank 54 is provided with a water gauge cock S9. At the end of aday of use of our apparatus if there iS water remaining in the freshwater tank 54 it may be drained through an outlet pipe 62 and a manuallyoperated valve 64, having a spigot 66, to a floor drain.

Compressed air from a compressed air tank 68 rigidly mounted on shelf 24(FIG. 2) passes through a safety relief valve 70 (FIGS. 3, 5, and 6), anair lilter 72, a pressure regulator 74 and a pressure gauge 76, allbeing mounted on a conduit 78 secured to back sidewall 20. Conduit 78delivers compressed air into the fresh water tank 54 at the top thereofto selectively force water through a conduit or water tube 80 to a waterfaucet 82 controlled by a faucet handle 84, conveniently mountedforwardly of the basins 28 and 30, to selectively or simultaneously drawwater out of spigots 86 and 88 providing water respectively to sinks 28and 30.

We provide a series of three compartments, indicated by the arrows 89,91, and 93 in FIG. 1, constructed at a back portion of and extendingabove the level of the counter top 18 and each compartment isrespectively provided with a lid 90, 92 and 94; these compartments areprovided to receive rolls of disposable paper or non-woven fabrictoweling or folded sheets of such toweling to be used in the mannerhereinafter described.

At the right-hand end of the counter 18, as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3, weprovide a hole 98 adapted to removably receive a stainles steelreceptacle or bucket 100 having a handle 101 for easy and convenientremoval from the hole 98.

Centrally located in the front of carriage we provide a drawer 102slidably received within a compartment 104 (FIGS. 2 and 4) extendinghalf the width, as viewed in FIG. 4 of the carriage 10. The b ack half106 of compartment 104 comprises an open storage space for spare towels.Drawer 102 is for storage of disposable plastic waste bags. Thesedisposable plastic bags when used are clipped to the front 12 of thecarriage by a clip 108 where the bag conveniently receives used towelingafter the washing process described hereinafter.

The disposable plastic bags are preferably of any plastic material thatis impervious to moisture and susceptible to fabrication on automaticbag forming machines; polyethylene being preferred to all other plasticsfor this use. The size of the disposable plastic bags should besuliicient to retain the waste towelings resulting from at least 25patient washings, a l2-inch by l8-inch bag being adequate for this wastetoweling.

A disposable plastic bag is also placed in the bucket 100 to receiveused bandages and other refuse matter which can be conveniently droppedinto it by the nurse or attendant during the washing period.

When the plastic bags become full they are removed from the clip 108 andbucket 100, sealed olf by any suitable tie string and deposited in anopen depository or bin generally indicated by the numeral 109. Bin 109extends from the upper surface of lower shelf 26 to the lower surface ofupper shelf 22, between two side walls 110 and extends the full width ofthe carriage 10. The compartment 109 is completely enclosed at the backby the rear sidewall and partially covered in the front by frontsidewall 12, leaving only an opening 112 through which the nurse orattendant deposits the tied disposable bags after removing from the clip108.

In the front of the carriage, we provide a plurality of slidable drawers114, 116, and 118 which may extend the full width of the carriage 10, orin a manner similar to the drawer 102, may extend only partially throughthe carriage from front 12 to rear 20 with the back portions being opento provide storage compartments. Drawers 114, 116 and 118 provideconvenient storage compart ments for excess toweling or any otherproducts or articles which the nurse or attendant desires to transportto the patients bed.

We shall now describe the toweling which is stored in the compartments89, 91 and 93 for use with our novel process described hereinafter. Washtoweling for washing the patient is stored in the compartment 89 andcomprises high wet strength paper or non-woven fabric towelingimpregnated with a cleansing detergent. This toweling is antisepticallytreated by impregnation of a prophylacetic detergent. As usedhereinafter, antiseptically treated or like term, means treatedchemically with a composition which destroys or impedes growth ofmicroorganisms on objects coming into Contact with the treated toweling,as for example, impregnated with bacteriocidal agents, fungicidalagents, and bacteriostatic agents or the like, singly or in combination.

The toweling from compartment 89 is submerged in wash water provided inbasin or sink 28 and used for scrubbing, washing or bathing the patientto remove residual soils, fluid secretions, detached cuticular wastes,microbic accumulations and the like from the epidermal surfaces of thebody.

The toweling stored in container 91 is a high wet strength non-detergentantiseptically treated rinse toweling which is submerged in the rinsewater provided in sink or basin 30. The rinse toweling is used toantiseptically cleanse the epidermal surfaces of the body of anyresidues after the scrubbing or washing with the detergent toweling.Each of the wash and rinse towels are deposited in the plastic bagretained on the side of the carriage by the clip 108 after they havebeen used.

Toweling stored in container 93 comprises low wet strength,non-detergent antiseptically treated toweling used for drying thepatients, after washing and rinsing, to hygienically remove the moisturefrom the epidermal surfaces of the body.

Preferably, each of the three types of toweling above described areprepared in distinguishable colors, thereby facilitating the process ofwashing, rinsing and drying of the patient with the proper selectedtoweling for each sequential operation.

The composition of the toweling preferably consists primarily of longibered conifer or softwood pulps. During the course of its conversioninto toweling, the material for each toweling is colored and treatedwith resin to provide the finished stock with residual or latent wetstrength.

The composition of the untreated wash toweling stock is identical tothat of the untreated rinse toweling stock. Except for a smallerquantity of wet strength resin to make it softer, more pliant andbibulous, the composition of the untreated toweling stock used fordrying is identical to that of the untreated wash and rinse towelingstocks.

The dyestuffs used for coloring the toweling substances preferably donot bleed or redissolve when the finished towelings are wetted with orimmersed in water. Also, the coloring agents preferably do not dissolvein antiseptic detergent preparations when such are applied to thecolored towelings in subsequent operations. In addition, the coloringmatters should not sensitize or irritate human skin surfaces. Laboratoryand hospital field tests indicate that the soluble F. D. & C. CertifiedColors of the National Aniline Division of Allied Chemical and thecolors sold under the trademark Pontamine of E. I. du Pont de NemoursCo. (Inc.) do not sensitize or irritate human skin surfaces when used,exclusive of bacteriostatic and prophylactic detergent preparations orthe like in concentrations not exceeding 0.10 percent of the finishedtoweling weights.

The bacteriostatic preparation employed to inhibit and killmicroorganisms is applied to the rinse and dry towelings as they areproduced on the paper-making machine, or immediately thereafter on otherappropriate machinery. When used in conjunction with these towelings,the preparation must not sensitize or irritate human skin surfaces.Laboratory and hospital field tests indicate that the followingbacteriostatic preparation does not sensitize or irritate human skinsurfaces when employed with the towelings in concentrations notexceeding percent of the untreated toweling weights:

BACTERIOSTATIC PREPARATION FOR RINSE AND DRY TOWELING To compound thebacteriostatic preparation, 5 pounds of isopropyl alcohol and 5 poundsof International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. `:#:1175D Scent are added to480 pounds of propylene glycol. The combined chemicals are agitateduntil uniformly mixed. The l0 pounds of hexachloraphene are added to themixture and the whole is agitated until all of the hexachlorophene isdissolved and in solution.

The bacteriostatic preparation is spread or laid upon the surfaces ofthe towelings by mechanical means, spraying, roller coating, or thelike, in such a manner that the weight of applied bacteriostaticpreparation Will preferably be not less than 3 percent nor more than 5percent of the untreated toweling weights. The preparation permeates thetoweling to provide it rwith an effective prophylaxis.

The prophylactic detergent preparation consists of the followingingredients, namely:

PROPHYLACTIC DETERGENT PREPARA- TION FOR WASH TOWELING Hexachlorophene,2,2methylenebis (3,4,6-trichlorophenol) is employed in the prophylacticdetergent preparation to render the composition effective againstmicroorganisms. Laboratory and hospital field tests indicate that theaddition of 2 percent of hexachlorophene to the detergent preparationprovides the same with adequate disinfecting and deodorizing actionswithout sensitization or irritation to human skin surfaces,

Propylene glycol and isopropyl alcohol are employed as mutual solventsfor both the hexachlorophene and the Miranol MSA Modified to produce astable detergent solution. When each solvent is not used in excess of 4percent of the total formula Weight as given herein, laboratory andhospital field tests indicate that the residual quantities of eachsolvent remaining in the preparation after application to the towelingdo not sensitize or irritate human skin surfaces.

Miranol MSA Modified is the synthetic detergent used to provide thepreparation with its emulsifying and cleansing properties. Miranol MSAModified is manufactured under U.S. Pat. No. 2,781,357 (and others) bythe Miranol Chemical Company, Inc. of Irvington, NJ. Chemically, it is ai0i percent active lauryl sulphate salt of caproyl cycloimidiniumethanol, soldium ethionate. Since it is an ionically balanced amphotericsurface active agent with an isoelectric point at pH 7, its cationic andanionic groups being of equal strength, it is compatible with allanionics, cationics and nonionics in all proportions. Hence, it iscompatible With hexachlorophene, an anionic substance. Laboratory andhospital field tests indicate that this synthetic detergent does notdeactivate hexachlorophene or act as a sensitizing or irritating agentwhen applied to human skin surfaces,

To compound the prophylactic detergent preparation,

the 2O pounds of prophylene glycol and the 20 pounds of isopropylalcohol are added to the 450 pounds of Miranol MSA Modified. Thecombined chemicals are agitated until completely mixed. The l0 pounds ofhexachlorophene are now added to the mixture. The finished preparationis kept under agitation until all of its ingredients are dispersed andintermingled. Finally, to obtain a composition of a more suitableviscosity for mechanical application, 50 pounds of demineralized watermay be added to the prophylactic detergent preparation. During theaddition of any such water, the preparation must be carefully agitatedto assure a complete intermingling of all of its constituents.

By mechanical means, spraying, roller coating, or the like, theprophylactic detergent preparation is spread or laid upon the surface ofthe toweling in such a manner that, after removal of all water and otherevaporative chemicals by heat, the weight of the applied preparationwill not be less than 20 percent nor more than 50 percent of theuntreated toweling weight.

After each machine roll of toweling has received its specifiedtreatment, it is slit and rewound into dispensing rolls or cut andfolded into separate folded sheets of toweling. All such dispensingrollsare separately packaged in sealed containers prior to placement incorrugated shipping cases. The rolls are removed fro-rn the plastic bagsand placed in the respective compartments 89, 91, and 93.

The fresh wash Water used in the system will normally be that which isavailable from a public source. Such water may, if necessary ordesirable, be treated for washing purposes by the addition of chemicalsor medicinals. All such additions would be made after the water isadmitted to the fresh water storage tank of the organizer. In manycases, the addition of a water softening agent to the fresh Wash Waterwould be beneficial. Any chemical added to the water must be compatiblewith the chemicals in the wash and rinse toweling.

Complete sterility of the stored waste Waters may be maintained byplacing 6 ounces of a 25 percent active blend of quaternary ammoniumchlorides, n-alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chlorides and n-alkyldimethyl ethylbenzyl ammonium chlorides, in the Waste Water tank of theorganizer. This addition is made prior to the patient washing period bypouring 3 ounces of the sterilizer into each basin drain and fiushing itinto the waste Water tank with a small quantity of tap water.

We shall now describe the operation of our apparatus and our novelmethod performed by the use of the preceding described novel apparatus.

Preparatory to use of the above described apparatus, the nurse orattendant fills the toweling compartments 89, 91 and 93 with theappropriate type of toweling above described. The entire carriage 10 andappurtenances are sterilized, as for example as suggested above, theentire carriage 10, may be inserted into a large hospital sterilizer andactually sterilized for subsequent use.

The insulated fresh water tank 54 is filled with tap water of selectedtemperature for bathing and rinsing by removing the cap 56, opening thevalve 58, and filling through conduit 6'0 from a source of heated water.During filling, the valve 64 Will be `closed and the gauge cock 59 willbe opened. After the tank 54 has been filled until water starts to comeout the gauge cock 59, the water from the source will be turned off, thegauge cock shut, valve 58 closed, and the closure cap 56 returned to theillustrated position. With the faucet handle 84 closed, the cornpartment58 is then pressurized by opening a valve 69 on the compressed air tank68.

Now the carriage is in condition for operation and th attendant or nursewheels the carriage 10 into the patients room. A plastic bag from thedravyer 102 is clipped by the clip 108 to the carriage 10. Next, thesinks or basins 28 and 30 are simultaneously filled by turning thefaucet handle 84. The attendant then tears off a suitable length oftoweling from the wash toweling roll in compartment 89 and from therinse toweling in compartment 91 and deposits the toweling respectivelyin the sinks 28 and 30. The compartment lids 90, 92 and 94 have atearing edge whereby the sheets of suitable length of toweling may betorn across the tearing edge of the compartment lids. The patient isthen scrubbed with the soap or wash toweling from the washing basin orsink 28, thereafter rinsed with the rinse toweling from the rinse basinor sink 30 after which a suitable length of drying toweling fromcompartment 93 is torn across the edge of the compartment lid 94 and thepatient is dried.

Upon completion of each of the steps of washing, rinsing and drying, theused toweling is dispensed into the plastic bag clipped to the clipl108. After the plastic bag is filled, it is tied off with a string orother suitable means and dispensed into the receptacle or bin 109. Aftercompletion of the patient washing process, the basins 28 and 30 areemptied into the waste water container 48. The empty sinks are thencleansed with a small piece of wetted wash or soap toweling.

After the waste container 48 is full, the carriage 10 is transported toa sewerage or drainage catch basin, preferably in the floor, and wastewater is drained by opening the valve 52. It will be understood that atthe end of the day that the fresh water is also drained in the samemanner by opening the valve 64.

In the above manner, and with the use of our apparatus, we are able toprovide improved method and apparatus for cleansing of the human body.The bacteriostatic and prophylactic detergent preparation or otherantiseptic preparation deposited on the epidermal surfaces of the humanbody destroy or inhibit resident and transient microorganisms, therebyproviding greatly improved hygenic control within the hospital duringthe patient washing period and thereafter.

While we have shown and described the preferred form of mechanism of ourinvention, it will be apparent that various modications and changes maybe made therein, particularly in the form and relation of parts, withoutdeparting from the spirit of our invention as set forth in the appendedclaims.

We claim:

1. A method of cleansing the surface of a human body in a hospital orthe like comprising the steps of transporting a portable apparatus forcleansing the surface of a human body from room to room, washing thesurface with disposable washing toweling and a washing preparationcarried on said apparatus, rinsing the surface with disposable rinsingtoweling and a rinsing preparation carried by said apparatus, and dryingthe surface with drying toweling carried by said apparatus.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 in which said drying step isperformed by drying the surface with disposable drying toweling carriedby said apparatus.

3. A method of cleansing the surface of a human body comprising thesteps of: sequentially washing the surface with disposable washingtoweling, rinsing the surface with disposable rinsing toweling, anddrying the surface with disposable drying toweling.

4. A method in accordance with claim 3 including a step of disposing ofall of said toweling in a disposable waterproof airtight contanerimmediately after use thereof.

5. A method in accordance with claim 3 in which said washing toweling isof a first selected color, said rinsing disposable toweling is of asecond selected color, and said drying toweling is of a third selectedcolor.

6. A method in accordance with claim 3 in which said washing toweling isimpregnated with an antisepetic preparation.

7. A method in accordance with claim 6 in which said drying towel isimpregnated with an antiseptic preparation.

8. A method in accordance with claim 6 in which said preparation is aprophylactic detergent.

9. A method in accordance with claim 6 in which said rinsing, disposabletoweling is impregnated with an antiseptic preparation.

10. A method in accordance with claim 9 in which said washing towelingis of a rlirst selected color, said rinsing disposable toweling is of asecond selected color, and said drying toweling is of a third selectedcolor.

11. A method of cleansing the surface of a human body in a hospital orthe like comprising the steps of z transporting a portable carriagecomprising liquid retaining basins and a plurality of disposabletoweling compartments having disposable washing, rinsing, and dryingtoweling therein from room to room, submerging said disposable washingand rinsing toweling in washing and rinsing preparations in said basins,sequentially washing and rinsing the surface with said disposablewashing toweling and rinsing toweling respectively, and sequentiallythereafter drying the surface with disposable drying toweling carried inone of said compartments.

12. A method in accordance with claim 11 in which said washing andrinsing toweling is impregnated with antiseptic preparation.

13. A method in accordance with claim 11 in which said washing towelingis of a first selected color, said rinsing disposable toweling is of asecond selected color, and said drying toweling is of a third selectedcolor.

14. A method in accordance with claim 13 in which said washing andrinsing toweling is impregnated with antiseptic preparation.

1S. A method for the systematic cleansing of a group of human beingshaving a common residence to control the random spread of pathogenicmicro-organisms arising from cleansing operations and to minimize theincidence of cross infections between said human beings, said methodcomprising the steps of:

(a) moving a portable washing carriage including: a wash basin, aseparate, rinse basin, and a supply of antiseptically treated towelingto a position adjacent a rst human being to be washed;

(b) filling said wash basin and said rinse basin with water;

(c) washing the surface of said human being with toweling from saidsupply and with said water in said wash basin;

(d) rinsing the surface of said human being with toweling from saidsupply and with said water in said rinse basin, said toweling used insaid rinsing step being different from said toweling used in saidwashing step; and

(e) drying said human being with toweling from said supply, saidtoweling used in said drying step being different from said towelingused in said washing and rinsing steps;

(f) disposing of all of said toweling by depositing them in a containerpositioned on said carriage;

(g) disposing of said water contained in said wash and rinse basins bydepositing it in a container on said carriage;

(h) cleaning and sterilizing both of said basins, and

(i) systematically repeating each of said steps (a) through (h) for eachsubsequent one of said human beings to be cleansed.

16. The method according to claim 15 including the step of periodicallypositioning said carriage in a sterilizing apparatus and sterilizingsaid carriage therein.

17. The method according to claim 15 including the steps of maintainingwashing toweling in a first container, maintaining rinsing toweling in asecond container, and maintaining drying toweling in a third containeron said carriage.

18. A method for the systematic cleansing of a group of human beingshaving a common residence to control the random spread of pathogenicmicro-organisms arising from cleansing operations and to minimize theincidence of cross infections between said human beings, comprismg:

(a) maintaining all of the components necessary to the cleansingoperation on a portable washing carriage and in readiness for use;

(b) positioning said carriage adjacent a human being to be cleansed;

(c) washing, rinsing and then drying said human being with separatewashing, rinsing, and drying toweling and water contained on saidcarriage;

(d) disposing of said toweling and water, by depositing said towelingand water in containers on said carriage;

(e) repeating steps (b) through (d) for each subsequent human being tobe cleansed; and

(f) periodically sterilizing said carriage by inserting it into asterilizing apparatus and sterilizing it therein.

19. A method for the systematic cleansing of a group of human beings 1ncommon association or res1dence to control the random spread ofpathogenic micro-organisms arising from such operations and to minimizethe incidence of cross infections between the members of said group aswell as between the members of said group and outsiders exposed to itssurroundings, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a carriage for the operating supplies and mechanicaladjuncts of the method, said adjuncts consisting of a wash basin, arinse basin, an enclosed fresh water tank, an enclosed waste water tank,piping for controlling the admittance of fresh water to said fresh watertank, the transmission of said fresh water from said fresh water tank tosaid wash and rinse basins and the discharge of said fresh water fromthe fresh water tank into a sanitary sewer, piping for controlling thetransmission of the waste wash waters from said wash and rinse basins tosaid waste water tank and the discharge of said waste wash waters fromsaid waste water tank into a sanitary sewer, a portable compressed airtank, including sundry piping, for applying air pressure to move saidfresh water from said fresh water tank to said wash and rinse basins,enclosed dispensers for all of the towelings employed in said method, anenclosed drawer for the storage of unused, disposable, airtight,waterproof containers, a receptacle for the retention of the charged,disposable, airtight, waterproof containers and bins for the storage ofthe specialized, antiseptically treated, disposable towelings used insaid method, the hereinafter designated wash, rinse and dry towelings;

(b) preparing the carriage for use by furnishing it with operatingsupplies consisting of a store of biocidally impregnated wash, rinse anddry toweling, a store of fresh water, a store of disposable, airtight,waterproof containers, a store of biocidal agent and a store ofcompressed air, the towelings being stored in the bins and dispensers ofsaid carriage, the fresh water being admitted into the -fresh water tankof said carriage for storage and chemical treatment via the pipingcontrolling its ingress thereto, the disposable, airtight, waterproofcontainers being stored in an enclosed drawer of said carriage, thebiocidal agent for sterilizing the waste wash waters being admitted intothe waste water tank for storage via the transmission piping controllingthe ingress of the waste wash waters to said waste water tank from thewash and rinse basins of said carriage, the compressed air being storedin the compressed air tank of said carriage and transferred via sundrypiping to the fresh water tank for applying pressure to move I (d)filling the wash and rinse basins of the carriage with fresh water fromthe yfresh water tank of said carriage via the controls situated in thefresh water transmission line;

(e) positioning a disposable, airtight, waterproof container on thecarriage;

(f) removing a portion of the supply of wash toweling from its dispenserand washing the surface of the rst human being to be cleansed by wettingsaid toweling in the fresh water contained in the wash basin of thecarriage;

(g) removing a portion of the supply of rinse toweling from itsdispenser and rinsing the surface of the first human being to becleansed by wetting said toweling in the fresh water contained in therinse basin of the carriage;

(h) removing a portion of the supply of dry toweling from its dispenserand drying the surface of the first human being to be cleansed;

(i) disposing of the wash, rinse and dry towelings immediately aftercompleting steps (f), (g) and (h) by depositing all of said towelings inthe disposable, airtight, waterproof container positioned on thecarriage, said disposable, airtight, waterproof containers beingpromptly sealed when full and placed in the receptacle of said carriagefor temporary storage;

(j) disposing of the Waste waters contained in the wash and rinse basinsby depositing said waste waters in the biocidally treated waste watertank via the controls situated in the waste wash water transmissionline;

(k) cleaning and sterilizing the wash and rinse basins with either asmall portion of the wash toweling or the rinse toweling, said towelingbeing wetted for the purpose with the fresh water and discardedimmediately after use by placing it in the disposable, airtight,waterproof containers positioned on the carriage, the flushing of saidwash and rinse basins with fresh water following said cleaning andsterilizing step;

(l) systematically repeating steps (c) through (k) for each subsequenthuman being to be cleansed.

20. The method according to claim 19 including the steps of periodicallyemptying the fresh water from the fresh water tank of the carriage andthe waste wash waters from the waste water tank of said carriage into asanitary sewer system, transferring the charged, disposable, airtight,waterproof containers from the receptacle of said carriage to anothersanitary container for subsequent incineration and the positioning ofthe carriage in an autoclave or other sterilizing apparatus forsterilization.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 136,466 3/1873 Stewart 424-281,595,791 8/1926 Lantieri. 1,786,513 12/1930' Zuckerman. 2,682,058 6/1954 Wolfe. 2,760,207 8/ 1956 Glintz. 2,784,418 3/1957 Luoma. 3,013,28012/1961 Coffman et al. 3,129,811 4/1964 Williams. 3,138,533 6/1964 Heimet al. 3,177,055 4/1965 Ruckle et al. 3,264,188 8/ 1966 Gresham.

JOSEPH SCOVRONEK, Primary Examiner D. G. MILLMAN, Assistant ExaminerU.S. Cl. X.R.

